Matthew Stafford had a reputation of being a quarterback who only put up big numbers without leading his team to any meaningful victories. It’s how he earned the nickname “Stat Padford,” putting up what many called empty statistics in garbage time while owning an 0-3 postseason record with the Lions.
He hasn’t even finished his first season with the Los Angeles Rams, yet he’s completely debunking that unfair narrative. He’s proving all of his doubters wrong by taking charge in Los Angeles as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
On Sunday in Tampa Bay, Stafford had a career-defining moment in his second playoff game with the Rams. With 42 seconds left and the score tied at 27 after the Buccaneers erased a 24-point deficit, the ball was in Stafford’s hands.
Needing a field goal to win the game, Stafford delivered with the biggest drive of his life. After hitting Cooper Kupp for a 20-yard gain with 35 seconds left, he then connected with No. 10 again on a deep shot down the middle in the final seconds.
It was a perfect throw by Stafford, setting up Matt Gay’s game-winning field goal as time expired. It truly doesn’t get any better than this.
9️⃣ TO 1️⃣0️⃣ TO SET UP THE WIN! pic.twitter.com/1hrjkOa4lQ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 23, 2022
How many quarterbacks in the NFL could make that throw in that spot with the game on the line? How many would even attempt it with multiple defenders bearing down on him with an all-out blitz?
Say what you will about Stafford’s time in Detroit, but he’s proved to be everything the Rams thought he would be. He’s done everything asked of his new team, leading Los Angeles to the NFC Championship Game with two incredible wins in his first two postseason games with the Rams.
And his numbers are out of this world in the playoffs, too.
He has 568 yards passing, four touchdown passes, 28 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, and he’s completed 41 of his 55 pass attempts in two games. He and the Rams steamrolled the Cardinals in the wild-card round with a 34-11 win, and although Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers was far closer than it should’ve been, it wasn’t the fault of Stafford.
He didn’t turn the ball over once, made only a couple of bad throws and routinely came through with big plays – like his 70-yard touchdown to Kupp after holding the safety in the middle of the field with his eyes.
Staff to @CooperKupp for a 70-YARD TD. Yeah, we're gonna watch this a few more times.
📺 @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/Ex7OPt7gre
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 23, 2022
When the Rams traded for Stafford, they were gambling that he would be the missing piece on offense – the player who could take them to the next level after getting bounced in the divisional round last year and missing the playoffs in 2019.
Though they haven’t won the Super Bowl yet or even reached the big game, Stafford is a big reason the Rams have won two playoff games and are just one win away from playing Super Bowl LVI in their own building.
It was Super Bowl or bust for Los Angeles after acquiring Stafford, and so far, he’s done everything in his power to hold up his end of the bargain after being acquired by the Rams. Even if they aren’t the last team standing on February 13, Stafford is disproving the belief that he can’t win big games.
He’s already won two of them in his first two tries with the Rams, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t win two more.
[listicle id=663597]